PG County Winter Weather Advisory

Prince George's County
Winter Weather Advisory
February 5, 2010

LARGO, MD – Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) staff goes into full snow operations deployment today at 1:00 p.m. to ensure full coverage on county roadways during and after the predicted record breaking snow event.

The Metro area forecast calls for a minimum of 16 with upwards to 24 or more inches of snow to fall beginning early this afternoon and continuing through to tomorrow evening. Crews will work 12-hour, round-the-clock shifts for as long as necessary to keep more than 1,821 miles (5,000+ lane miles) of county-maintained roadways clear of snow and ice to ensure the safety of residents, citizens, and others traveling through the county.

During a normal 12-hour rotating shift, more than 240 vehicles and 250 employees work to clear Prince George’s County maintained roadways.

However, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson has tapped other county agency to assist DPW&T during this event, which will bring the total to nearly 300 snow vehicles on the roadways during a 12-hour shift. Those agencies include the county’s departments of Environmental Resources, Central Services and others as needed, as well as the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Board
of Education.

Command staff work out of DPW&T’s TRIP Center located at 8414 D’Arcy Road, Forestville, MD, where press ride alongs and photo/interview opportunities can be arranged on site or in the field during the snow event. Visual opportunities range from loading trucks at the salt dome and plowing roads to a state of the art street monitoring center and command strategy room.

To assist road crews in keeping roadways clear, residents are requested to:

• Move and keep vehicles off snow emergency routes

• Park in driveways or other off-road locations wherever possible

• Park only on the EVEN-NUMBERED sides of streets
(This is very important in order to allow plows to clear residential roadways. Plows cannot maneuver around vehicles to clear roadways. One side of the roadway must clear of vehicles for plow drivers to effectively perform snow and ice removal services.)

It also is important for single-family homeowners or renters and business
proprietors to remember that they are responsible for:

• Removal of snow and/or ice from sidewalks abutting their homes
or business establishments

• Removal of snow from around fire hydrants is appreciated

As in all inclement weather conditions, citizens and residents are encouraged not to drive for their own safety, as well as that of emergency crews. Should drivers find it necessary to be on county roadways during or immediately after a storm event, they need to allow extra travel time and use extreme caution.

Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson may declare a State-of-Emergency, which would go into effect at some point after the snow has begun to fall. If a State-of-Emergency is declared, motorists should not drive or park on snow emergency routes or they could be subject to a ticket and fine.

In addition to DPW&T staff, members of the department’s successful Community Partnering Program will report to DPW&T concerning roadway conditions within their communities after crews have begun to focus on residential roadways. This allows crews to quickly redeploy where needed.

It should be noted that primary roadways are serviced first, followed by secondary and residential roadways. Primary roads are addressed first to ensure that public safety and other emergency vehicles are able to travel.

Following a storm of this predicted magnitude, it could take crews up to 48-hours or more after the end of the snowfall before they can focus on residential streets. Residents and citizens may contact the county’s Snow Information Center in the event of an emergency or to report concerns about roadway conditions (please do not report on residential roadway conditions before the 48-hour period) by calling 301.350.0500.

In a snow event of this predicted magnitude, folks are asked to be patient, do not drive on roadways, and park only on the EVEN-NUMBERED side of the street if off-street parking is not available.

PLEASE FORWARD - Last Call for Emails OR Attendance for Feb 3 Liquor Board Hearing Regarding Rio bar

If you are reading this message
You are part of the solution -- Thanks !

Please consider using the Email Icon below
To Forward this post to everyone you know who may be interested i
n an opportunity to express their own views directly to the Liquor Board


For more history see j.mp/rio2010jan

==========

Stop the Violence

February 3, 2010 7 pm Liquor Board Hearing
Regarding Rio Restaurant & Lounge
Request to extend its hours of operation to 2 AM
To operate as a Bar not as a "Family Friendly restaurant"

As you may know, after only 2 months of operation since Dec 2, 2009, the new owner of Rio Restaurant & Lounge(13501 Baltimore Ave at Contee Rd, formerly Rio Sports Bar & Grill) will be given a Liquor Board hearing on Feb 3 7 pm to consider his request to loosen the years-long standing liquor license restrictions at that location. Those restrictions have been put in place and annually renewed by the Liquor Board at the long-standing request of our community associations, organizations, residents, and elected officials, to require that location to operate as a "Family Friendly restaurant", to prevent any recurrence of the long history of violence at that location (formerly the violent clubs Dinosaurs and Amazon).

1) Last Call for Your Emails to the Liquor Board by 3 pm Wednesday February 3 regarding Rio bar

You and your friends -- who are Prince George's County Registered Voters -- please consider sending an email to the County Liquor Board expressing opposition to Rio Bar's request to extend its hours and/or your own views for delivery by 3 pm February 3.

Below is sample text to copy/paste, and modify to express your own views :

Dear Prince George's County Liquor Board, Chairman Jackson

Subject: OPPOSE Rio Restaurant & Lounge Extending Hours of Operation and any Loosening of License Conditions

I, (FULL NAME), living at (FULL ADDRESS), am a Prince George's County registered voter,

I oppose loosening any of the current liquor license conditions for Rio Restaurant & Lounge located at 13501 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, Maryland 20707

I specifically oppose any extension of the hours of operation.

I believe that the two months that Rio Restaurant & Lounge will have been in operation since opening December 2, 2009 is a totally inadequate amount of time in which to assess whether to loosen any of the current conditions on their liquor license, including any extension of the hours of operation, due to the long history of violence at that location.

I believe that any loosening of the conditions on this liquor license is a threat to the peace and safety of the community.

Respectfully,
[Your Signature Block]
===============================================

2) Attending
February 3, 2010 7 pm Liquor Board Hearing
Regarding Rio Restaurant & Lounge
As many of us as possible (registered voter or not) can try to attend the Liquor Board hearing at 7 pm Wednesday February 3. You do not need to stay long at the hearing -- You can just stand up at the beginning of the hearing when the Chairman literally counts how many are present "in Opposition" to Rio's request (and how many are "For") -- it's not a vote -- but it is a very effective way to show our community's opposition to Rio's attempt to expand its operating hours to operate as a Bar not as a "Family Friendly restaurant" (see below). The hearing will be held at:

Board of License Commissioners
County Service Building
5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Room 200
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781

(MAP)

PARKING:

  • Ignore the "Public Parking" sign that seems to point to Farragut Ave
  • Enter the underground garage by turning off Route 1 onto 43d Avenue (south of County services Building). The garage entrance is on your immediate right.
  • Park on Level P1 or P2 and remember your parking space number.
  • Go to level P put your parking space number and money in the parking payment kiosk
    (75 cents per hour, coins or credit card only -- no bills)

As you face the parking payment kiosk, 5012 Rhode Island Avenue (County Service Building) is behind you across the court yard. Once in the County Service Building, proceed to the second floor. Go to Hearing Room 200 (not 204)

Feb 17 South Laurel Town Hall Meeting
With County Council Chairman Tom Dernoga

SOUTH LAUREL TOWN HALL MEETING
with
Tom Dernoga
Chairman, Prince George’s County Council

DATE: Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

TIME: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

LOCATION: The Tabernacle Church
11601 South Laurel Drive
Laurel, MD 20708

Concerned about crime, abandoned homes/property standards, H1N1, and property standards in your neighborhood? If so, we want to hear from you.

Meet South Laurel Community Leaders.

Representatives from the following agencies will address your concerns:
♦ Police Department ♦ Public Works ♦ Environmental Resources
♦ Animal Control ♦ Board of Education ♦ Social Services, etc.
♦ Health Department ♦ Census Bureau

RSVP appreciated (but not required) to (301) 952-3887

Habrán traductores de español disponibles

Montpelier Mansion & Montpelier Arts Center Black History Exhibits & Jazz/Folk/Blues Concerts

FEBRUARY & MARCH 2010

Montpelier Mansion and Montpelier Arts Center


Black History Programs


At Montpelier Mansion

Saturday, January 30, 2 pm (Snow date: Saturday, Feb 6, 2 pm)
Concert: Society for the Preservation of African American Arts
Singing slave songs, spirituals, and reenacting slaves living on a plantation in the 1800s, the singers will captivate audiences of all ages. Advance payment & reservations required.
Ages 10 & up
Call: 301-377-7817; TTY 301-699-2544


At Montpelier Arts Center

Feb. 5- Feb. 28 Culture of the Mind and Spirit, Main Gallery

John Beckley, Rushern Baker, Alonzo Davis, Cheryl Dyer, Henry Elliott, Thomas Gomillion, Jacqueline Lee, Angela Mathis, Clarence Page, Roland Richardson, Elbert R. Roberson, and Kenneth Shepherd, in an exhibition of African American artists who have a common heritage and profound links to Montpelier Arts Center.

Browse all Black History events and plan your month at http://blackhistory.pgparks.com.


Also On View At The Arts Center


IN THE LIBRARY GALLERY

Marcella Morgese, Maryland Sculptor

Feb. 5 - March 26 - Mixed media works

Reception for the February Exhibitions:

Friday, Feb. 5, 7-9 pm Free and open to the public.


MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER PERFORMANCES


SPRING JAZZ SERIES

See this weblink for the complete schedule.

The first concert of the Montpelier Spring Jazz Series will be held on Friday, March 5. Don’t wait until then to buy your tickets. This series often sells out in the first week of individual sales. Series tickets ($120 for all 7 concerts) on sale Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 8:30 am. Individual concert tickets ($20/ concert) on sale Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8:30 am.


FOLK AND BLUES SERIES

See this weblink for the complete schedules.

Folk and Blues Series tickets go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 2. Get five concerts for the price of four, $80. Individual tickets will go on sale Feb. 9, $20/ $18 for members and seniors.


SPECIAL PRICE: Get tickets for both the Jazz and Folk/Blues Series (all twelve concerts for the price of nine) for just $180

Montpelier Arts Center is looking for volunteers for art receptions and performances. Anyone who is interested can call the Arts Center at 301 377-7800.

Recall: Tylenol, Motrin, Other Recalls

Johnson & Johnson issued a massive recall Friday of over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol, Motrin and St. Joseph's aspirin because of a moldy smell that has made people sick.

FILE - This July 19, 2002 picture shows the Johnson & Johnson corporate headquarters in New... Expand
(AP)

It was the second such recall in less than a month because of the smell, which regulators said was first reported to McNeil in 2008. Federal regulators criticized the company, saying it didn't respond to the complaints quickly enough, wasn't thorough in how it handled the problem and didn't inform the Food and Drug Administration quickly.

The recall includes some batches of regular and extra-strength Tylenol, children's Tylenol, eight-hour Tylenol, Tylenol arthritis, Tylenol PM, children's Motrin, Motrin IB, Benadryl Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph's aspirin.

The FDA and Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products said they did not know the number of bottles recalled. It included caplet and geltab products sold in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates, and Fiji.

Consumers should check the full list at http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com to identify the recalled batches.


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9578485

Other Alerts & Recalls indexed on SLNV

Safe & Reliable Haiti Earthquake Donation Lists

At WAMU.org

Rio Restaurant & Lounge Hearing Now Feb 3 - Petitions / Emails / FAX Letters (2011)

Please share this information widely.
Please send emails and petitions as described below
Soonest but no later than 3 pm February 3.

For this article & updates: j.mp/rio2010jan

For recent Rio history: j.mp/rio2009july

Update Jan 31, 2010:

Update Jan 8, 2010:
Now that the hearing date has changed to 7 pm Wednesday February 3, please download and circulate this revised petition form. (To preserve earlier links, the filename was not changed.) Please do not continue to circulate the old (Jan 13) petition form, but please do deliver to the Liquor Board in any remaining signed copies of the old (Jan 13) petition.

Please deliver petitions to the Liquor Board soonest, but no later than 3 pm February 3.


Board of License Commissioners
County Service Building
5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
Phone: (301) 699-2770
Fax: (301) 985-3548

Please also consider sending the following revised message text with your elaborating comments from yourself individually and separately by your community organization by email or FAX or letter delivered to the Liquor Board soonest, but no later than 3 pm February 3.

Revised opposition email/letter/FAX text:



To: Prince George's County Liquor Board, Chairman Jackson
Subject: OPPOSE Rio Restaurant & Lounge Extending Hours of Operation and any Loosening of license conditions

I, (FULL NAME), living at (FULL ADDRESS), am a Prince George's County registered voter,
[For organizations: and President/etc of the XYZ Homeowners Association/etc ].

I oppose loosening any of the current liquor license conditions for Rio Restaurant & Lounge located at 13501 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, Maryland 20707

I specifically oppose any extension of the hours of operation.

I believe that the one or even two months that Rio Restauant & Lounge will have been in operation since opening December 2, 2009 is a totally inadequate amount of time in which to assess whether to loosen any of the current conditions on their liquor license, including any extension of the hours of operation.

I believe that any loosening of the conditions on this liquor license is a threat to the peace and safety of the community.
Respectfully,
[Your Signature Block]
==========

Update Jan 7, 2010:
This afternoon i received notification from the Liquor Board that the January 13, 2010 hearing for Rio Restaurant & Lounge has been continued (rescheduled) to February 3, 2010 at 7 pm at the County Services Building in Hyattsville.

February 3, 2010 7:00 P.M.
Board of License Commisioners / Liquor Board
County Service Building, Hearing Room 200
5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Thanks to all who were able to write to the Liquor Board on such short notice. And special thanks to our elected Representatives, and their staff, who sent letters and otherwise engaged the Liquor Board on behalf of our Community:


MD District 21 Senator - Jim Rosapepe (Carolyn Brenner, Stacey Baca)
MD District 21 Delegate - Barbara Frush
MD District 21 Delegate - Ben Barnes
MD District 21 Delegate - Joseline Peña-Melnyk
MD District 23 Senator - Douglas Peters
MD District 23A Delegate - Gerron Levi
MD District 23A Delegate - James Hubbard
Prince George's County District 1 Councilman & Council Chair - Tom Dernoga (Laura Moore)
Prince George's County Education Board Member District 1 Rosalind Johnson
City of Laurel, Mayor Moe


If you have not yet sent a message to the Liquor Board, please do so, expressing your opposition to loosening any of Rio's liquor license conditions as described on this web page J.MP/rio2010jan (see UPDATE Jan 8, 2010 for revised message text and a revised petition) -- Omit opposition to the Jan 13 hearing date because that hearing is now rescheduled to Feb 3.
==========

Update Jan 5, 2010:
Please reserve Jan 13 7 pm for Possible Rio Hearing [now Feb 3]
Even as we urgently send the Liquor Board our emails, letters, faxs and petitions to change the scheduled Rio hearing date (see below), please try to reserve January 13 7 pm [now Feb 3] on your calendars, so as many of us as possible can go to Hyattsville on that date to attend the Liquor Board hearing IF the hearing is not rescheduled to later as we are requesting.

Just standing up at the beginning of the Liquor Board hearing when the Chairman literally counts how many are present "in Opposition" to Rio's request (and how many are "For") -- its not a vote -- but it is very effective in showing our communty's opposition to Rio's attempt to expand its operating hours (see below). Such very late hours are totally inconsistent with Rio's long standing liquor license requirement that they operate as a "Family-Friendly" restaurant, due to the long history of violence at that location. Community organization leaders and elected legislators would be testifying, but attendance by a large number of citizens sends a unique and powerful message -- which has been very successful for our community at past hearings like this.

Of course, we hope the hearing will be rescheduled to much later in the year -- which is why your emails, letters, and petitions are so important and urgent right now -- and you will be notified immediately if/when that happens -- but we may not learn that until the very last moment -- so we need to be prepared for Jan 13, just in case. [now Feb 3]

So, please try to join our email, letter, and petition campaign -- and also attend the hearing if you can (see below)

==========

On Dec 31, 2009, just before the New Year's holiday weekend, we learned from a Laurel Gazette article that a Liquor Board hearing is scheduled at 7 pm Wednesday, January 13, 2010 [now Feb 3] for Rio Restaurant & Lounge (which was confirmed by a call to the Liquor Board.) That hearing was requested by Rio owner, Mr. Tak Yoon, to extend his hours of operation (*) and possibly also to argue for the loosening of other conditions requested by the community, which were approved by the Liquor Board on July 28, 2009 due to the long history of violence at that location. (Liquor Board Letter, July 29, 2009).
At the July 28, 2009 hearing, the Liquor Board said it would schedule a hearing to review this license in no less than six months (i.e. no earlier than January 2010). At that time, Rio was expected to open soon -- giving several months of Rio operations to consider in a January 2010 hearing. But Rio did not open until Dec 2, 2009. Now, after only one month in operation, the Rio owner is already trying to extend Rio's hours of operation to later than those imposed by the Liquor Board. (*).
I am asking community residents -- and community organization leaders on behalf of your organizations -- to please consider immediately sending emails or faxed letters to the Liquor Board requesting that the January 13 [now Feb 3] hearing should be rescheduled to no earlier than June 2010 [June 2010], to provide adequate experience with Rio operations before considering any loosening of the Rio's current liquor licence conditions -- but such a hearing should be in no case earlier than February 10, 2010, as a matter of fairness, due process, and open government. (See example wording below)

We have since learned that Mr. Tak Yoon appeared at a regularly scheduled 10 AM session of the Liquor Board on December 22, 2009 to submit his request for extended hours of operations. But the Liquor Board declined to hear his request at that time. The Board scheduled the January 13, 2010 evening hearing so that community Persons of Record in the case could attend, but somehow, our community Persons of Record did not receive any notice that the Liquor Board's regularly scheduled January 13, 7 pm administrative session would deal in any way with Rio. (Liquor Board Rule & Regulation 25).(*) We understand that the extended hours being requested by Rio are:
  • Monday through Friday -- extending closing from 11:30 pm to 1 am
  • Sunday -- extending closing from 11:30 pm to 2 am
  • Sunday -- extending opening from 12:30 pm to one hour earlier at 11:30 am
PETITIONS:
Given the very short notice we all have received, nonetheless, if you can, please download this petition [revised for February 3 hearing] and collect signatures from local residents (must be Prince George's County registered voters) and deliver them by hand, mail, or FAX to the Liquor Board by no later than Noon January 13 (and earlier if possible) [now Feb 3] so there is time for Liquor Board staff to verify the names and addresses with the county voter registration rolls.

Board of License Commissioners
County Service Building

5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
Phone: (301) 699-2770
Fax: (301) 985-3548

EMAIL or FAXed Letters:
From Individuals and additionally from Organization Leaders on behalf of your Organization:

You can copy/paste/modify the following text into your own email or faxed letter (not as a petition with multiple names) AND your own elaborative comments
This following email text is now outdated by events -- please use the email text above under Update Jan 8


To: Prince George's County Liquor Board, Chairman Jackson
 Subject: OPPOSE Jan 13 [now Feb 3] Rio Hearing and Hours Extension.
I, (FULL NAME), living at (FULL ADDRESS), am a Prince George's County registered voter,
[For organizations: and President/etc of the XYZ Homeowners Association/etc ].
1) I oppose loosening any of the current liquor license conditions for Rio Restaurant & Lounge located at 13501 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, Maryland 20707; including, but not limited to, opposition to extending the hours of operation.
2) I oppose holding the liquor board hearing on this matter on January 13, 2010, as currently scheduled.
3) I request that this hearing be held no earlier than June 2010 and in no case before February 10, 2010
I believe that the only one or even two months that Rio Restauant & Lounge will have been in operation since opening December 2, 2009 is a totally inadequate amount of time in which to assess whether to loosen any of the current conditions on their liquor license, including any extension of the hours of operation.
Moreover, Persons of Record representing our community somehow did not receive notice from the Liquor Board, that the January 13 hearing would address Rio Restaurant & Lounge (R.R. 25).
Further, I believe that any loosening of the conditions on this liquor license is a threat to the peace and safety of the community.
[Your Signature Block]
===========================================

You are of course, free to communicate any other thoughts you wish in any way to the Liquor Board.


In any case please do not forward this entire message to the Liquor Board
-- just your own personal correspondence
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)